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Eric Chang 演講心得 (7. 24. 2010)
週六去了休士頓台灣人活動中心聽了一場蠻精彩的演講
講者是阿明(Eric Chang)，他最近在Youtube上蠻紅的
（http://www.youtube.com/user/ahbying）
他是一個在美國唸完大學然後回台灣念研究所及博士班的年輕人。聽完他的演講，突然覺得台灣還是很有希望的，每次在網路上看到很多人都批評國外回來的年輕人洋腔洋調，只會泡夜店、開名車，十足揮霍的敗家子形象，這些元素在阿明身上完全看不到。阿明是一個很有自己思考的年輕人，或許是因為接受過美國的教育，勇於批判，勇於發聲，跟接受國民黨傳統中國教育的我真是天差地別，也因此對於這樣的一個年輕人，能夠待在台灣為了台灣社會做出一些改變，我個人真的是欽佩不已。
阿明勇於『嗆聲』，但他並不只是隨便嗆聲而已，他觀察台灣的社會，瞭解台灣的議題，自己的思考，以台灣為主的思考。例如，他對「中華民國」這個概念的詮釋，可以說是一針見血，中華民國在這個世界上是不存在的國家，而只有生活在台灣島上的人民天真的以為自己的國家是中華民國。所以阿明說，陳雲林來台的時候，看見那麼多年輕人拿著中華民國的國旗在街上揮來揮去，他就覺得渾身不對勁。這又讓我想起，Freddy(閃靈樂團主唱)以前曾經說過，那個時候與其看警察搶國旗、折斷國旗，那些年輕人不如一不做二不休，在警察面前把國旗全部燒了，豈不痛快?（不過這又牽涉到毀損國旗罪，所以可行性確實低了點）。
阿明在台灣，嗆馬、嗆張銘清，被警察機關盯上，知道他是「麻煩份子」，所以管區開始每天都到他家找他「喝茶」，希望他收斂一點。但是他依然努力的做他想做的事，說他想說的話。他訝異自由民主的台灣居然還會有警察來關切你這種事，在人民擁有「言論自由」的情況下，所謂的「言論自由」，不就是代表人們有機會對於一切公共事務做出批判或評論嗎?他也點出了一個重點，就是「為什麼現在台灣的年輕人對政治如此冷漠？」
或許是有國民黨以前白色恐怖的遺毒，讓家長告誡自己的小孩子不要管政治，要專心讀書。另一方面是因為國民黨擁有大多數媒體的詮釋權，能夠讓民眾淡忘或是忽視社會上發生的許多不公不義的事件。除此之外，我認為還有一點，就是現在的年輕人享有的太多，反而不瞭解什麼是最寶貴的、最需要珍惜的、又或者說是用盡一切也要維護的東西是什麼，造成力量分散，無法引起共鳴。阿明也提到了野草莓，他認為野草莓太「soft」，禁不起時間以及意志力的考驗，因為改變是緩慢的，不是一群人坐在自由廣場前面七八天就能夠達成的。當然，阿明真的是有點「恨鐵不成鋼」，我反倒覺得野草莓只是一個開始而已，一開始的一小群人，可以吸引一些人加入，或許那些人原來是沒有任何對公共議題關心的份子，又或者說真的是社會上說的「草莓族」吧，但至少他們跨出了一步，從「草莓」變成「野草莓」了（雖然還是不夠hard)。之後台灣的八八水災、國光石化白海豚、苗栗大埔事件，我敢說這些野草莓們一定或多或少也參與其中，而這些就是改變，就是年輕人的改變，也就是台灣未來的改變。
阿明最後要我們有信心，就算馬英九2012當選，台灣也不會被中國吃過去。我也希望阿明說的是真的，但更希望總統能夠換個更有能力的人選、更關心台灣人的政黨。此外，與其每天跟自己有相同政治理念的人互相取暖，更重要的是需要將對的價值以及對的思考模式傳達給跟自己理念相左的族群，就算被批評、被罵，但或許這才是真正帶來改變的契機，無論是選舉還是用在個人身上，我覺得都是很有道理的。
楊祐豪 (筆者為德州農工大學博士生)
You-Hao Yang
講者是阿明(Eric Chang)，他最近在Youtube上蠻紅的
（http://www.youtube.com/user/ahbying）
他是一個在美國唸完大學然後回台灣念研究所及博士班的年輕人。聽完他的演講，突然覺得台灣還是很有希望的，每次在網路上看到很多人都批評國外回來的年輕人洋腔洋調，只會泡夜店、開名車，十足揮霍的敗家子形象，這些元素在阿明身上完全看不到。阿明是一個很有自己思考的年輕人，或許是因為接受過美國的教育，勇於批判，勇於發聲，跟接受國民黨傳統中國教育的我真是天差地別，也因此對於這樣的一個年輕人，能夠待在台灣為了台灣社會做出一些改變，我個人真的是欽佩不已。
阿明勇於『嗆聲』，但他並不只是隨便嗆聲而已，他觀察台灣的社會，瞭解台灣的議題，自己的思考，以台灣為主的思考。例如，他對「中華民國」這個概念的詮釋，可以說是一針見血，中華民國在這個世界上是不存在的國家，而只有生活在台灣島上的人民天真的以為自己的國家是中華民國。所以阿明說，陳雲林來台的時候，看見那麼多年輕人拿著中華民國的國旗在街上揮來揮去，他就覺得渾身不對勁。這又讓我想起，Freddy(閃靈樂團主唱)以前曾經說過，那個時候與其看警察搶國旗、折斷國旗，那些年輕人不如一不做二不休，在警察面前把國旗全部燒了，豈不痛快?（不過這又牽涉到毀損國旗罪，所以可行性確實低了點）。
阿明在台灣，嗆馬、嗆張銘清，被警察機關盯上，知道他是「麻煩份子」，所以管區開始每天都到他家找他「喝茶」，希望他收斂一點。但是他依然努力的做他想做的事，說他想說的話。他訝異自由民主的台灣居然還會有警察來關切你這種事，在人民擁有「言論自由」的情況下，所謂的「言論自由」，不就是代表人們有機會對於一切公共事務做出批判或評論嗎?他也點出了一個重點，就是「為什麼現在台灣的年輕人對政治如此冷漠？」
或許是有國民黨以前白色恐怖的遺毒，讓家長告誡自己的小孩子不要管政治，要專心讀書。另一方面是因為國民黨擁有大多數媒體的詮釋權，能夠讓民眾淡忘或是忽視社會上發生的許多不公不義的事件。除此之外，我認為還有一點，就是現在的年輕人享有的太多，反而不瞭解什麼是最寶貴的、最需要珍惜的、又或者說是用盡一切也要維護的東西是什麼，造成力量分散，無法引起共鳴。阿明也提到了野草莓，他認為野草莓太「soft」，禁不起時間以及意志力的考驗，因為改變是緩慢的，不是一群人坐在自由廣場前面七八天就能夠達成的。當然，阿明真的是有點「恨鐵不成鋼」，我反倒覺得野草莓只是一個開始而已，一開始的一小群人，可以吸引一些人加入，或許那些人原來是沒有任何對公共議題關心的份子，又或者說真的是社會上說的「草莓族」吧，但至少他們跨出了一步，從「草莓」變成「野草莓」了（雖然還是不夠hard)。之後台灣的八八水災、國光石化白海豚、苗栗大埔事件，我敢說這些野草莓們一定或多或少也參與其中，而這些就是改變，就是年輕人的改變，也就是台灣未來的改變。
阿明最後要我們有信心，就算馬英九2012當選，台灣也不會被中國吃過去。我也希望阿明說的是真的，但更希望總統能夠換個更有能力的人選、更關心台灣人的政黨。此外，與其每天跟自己有相同政治理念的人互相取暖，更重要的是需要將對的價值以及對的思考模式傳達給跟自己理念相左的族群，就算被批評、被罵，但或許這才是真正帶來改變的契機，無論是選舉還是用在個人身上，我覺得都是很有道理的。
楊祐豪 (筆者為德州農工大學博士生)
You-Hao Yang
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
禁忌的國家---讀後感講座
Monday, March 1, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
美國軍售案-後續
BEIJING – China suspended military exchanges with the United States, threatened unprecedented sanctions against American defense companies and warned Saturday that cooperation would suffer after Washington announced $6.4 billion in planned arms sales to Taiwan.
The response to Friday's U.S. announcement, while not entirely unexpected, was swift and indicated that China plans to put up a greater challenge than usual as it deals with the most sensitive topic in U.S.-China relations.
"This is the strongest reaction we've seen so far in recent years," said Stephanie T. Kleine-Ahlbrandt, northeast Asia project director for the International Crisis Group. "China is really looking to see what kind of reaction it's going to receive from Obama on this."
China's Defense Ministry said the arms sales to self-governing Taiwan, which the mainland claims as its own, cause "severe harm" to overall U.S.-China cooperation, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. Vice ministerial-level talks on arms control and strategic security were postponed.
The warning comes as the U.S. seeks Beijing's help on issues including the global financial crisis and nuclear standoffs in North Korea and Iran. Tensions were already high after recent U.S. comments on Internet freedom and a dispute between Google and China, as well as President Barack Obama's plan to meet with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama this year.
China's Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei told U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman that the sales of Black Hawk helicopters, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles and other weapons to Taiwan would "cause consequences that both sides are unwilling to see," a ministry statement said.
The Foreign Ministry also threatened sanctions against U.S. companies involved in the arms sales, which hasn't happened in past sales to Taiwan.
"Our action regarding Taiwan reinforces our commitment to stability in the region," U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Saturday. "We know China has a different view. Given our broad relationship with China, we will manage this issue as we have in the past."
The United States is Taiwan's most important ally and largest arms supplier, and it's bound by law to ensure the island is able to respond to Chinese threats.
China responds angrily to any proposed arms sales, however, and it also cut off military ties with the U.S. in 2008 after the former Bush administration announced a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan.
A similar cutoff of military ties was expected this time, but it comes as Washington and Beijing wanted to improve normally frosty relations between their armed forces. The U.S. has tried to use military visits to build trust with Beijing and learn more about the aims of its massive military buildup.
"In the past, these kinds of suspensions have lasted for three to six months, with some parts of the military-to-military relationship suspended beyond that," said Phillip Saunders, a distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University in Washington. "I expect something similar this time."
It's not known whether the arms sale will affect President Hu Jintao's expected visit to the U.S. this year or a summit on nuclear safety in the U.S. this spring.
Experts on China warned Beijing could take further steps to punish the United States to show its newfound power and confidence in world affairs.
Jin Canrong, a professor of international studies at China's Renmin University, said the sale would give Beijing a "fair and proper reason" to accelerate weapons testing. China test-fired rockets in recent weeks for an anti-missile defense system in what security experts said was a display of anger at the pending arms sale.
"The U.S. will pay a price for this. Starting now, China will make some substantial retaliation, such as reducing cooperation on the North Korea and Iran nuclear issues and anti-terrorism work," Jin added.
The latest suspension of military ties should affect planned visits to China by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. A visit to the U.S. by the Chinese military's chief of the general staff, Gen. Chen Bingde, could also be called off.
The U.S. Congress has 30 days to comment on the newest arms sales before the plan goes forward. Lawmakers traditionally have supported such sales.
Though Taiwan's ties with China have warmed considerably since Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou took office 20 months ago, Beijing has threatened to invade if the island ever formalizes its de facto independence. China has more than 1,000 ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan.
China often argues that arms sales to Taiwan hurt their relations, but Saunders said that despite the latest announcement and the one in 2008, "cross-Strait relations have never been better."
The arms package announced Friday dodged a thorny issue: The more advanced F-16 fighter jets that Taiwan covets are not included.
The Pentagon's decision not to include the fighters and a design plan for diesel submarines — two items Taiwan wants most — "shows that the Obama administration is deeply concerned about China's response," said Wang Kao-cheng, a defense expert at Taipei's Tamkang University.
Taiwan's Ma told reporters Saturday that the deal should not anger the mainland because the weapons are defensive, not offensive.
Source:
歐巴馬要硬起來了嗎？(美國軍售案)
US announces $6B arms sale to Taiwan
By FOSTER KLUG
The Associated Press
Friday, January 29, 2010; 4:12 PM
WASHINGTON -- In a move sure to aggravate China, the Obama administration on Friday announced plans for more than $6 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing island the Chinese claim as their own.
The sale would include Black Hawk helicopters, Patriot missiles, mine-hunting ships and information technology. Lawmakers have 30 days to comment before the plan proceeds; senior lawmakers have traditionally supported arms sales to Taiwan.
Taiwan is the most sensitive matter in already-tense relations between the U.S. and China, two powers increasingly linked by security and economic issues. The sale could spark a temporary break in U.S.-China military ties.
The United States, which only told China of the sale hours before the announcement, acknowledged Friday that Beijing may retaliate by cutting off military talks with Washington, which happened after a multibillion dollar U.S. sale to Taiwan in 2008.
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Wang Baodong, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said Beijing will lodge a formal protest against the U.S. decision. Asked if China would cut off military ties, he said, "Let's wait and see."
President Barack Obama's national security adviser, Jim Jones, said Friday that Washington and Beijing both do things "periodically that may not make everybody completely happy."
But Jones told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank the U.S. is "bent toward a new relationship with China as a rising power in the world."
China vehemently opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. It has threatened to invade Taiwan should the island ever formalize its de facto independence.
The United States is Taiwan's most important ally and largest arms supplier.
The package, posted on a Pentagon Web site, dodges one thorny issue: The F-16 fighter jets that Taiwan covets are not included.
The sale satisfies parts of an $11 billion arms package originally pledged to Taiwan by former President George W. Bush in 2001, which has been provided in stages because of political and budgetary considerations in Taiwan and the United States.
The arms sale will test the Obama administration's China policy, which U.S. officials say is meant to improve trust between the countries, so that the inevitable disagreements over Taiwan or Tibet don't reverse efforts to cooperate on nuclear standoffs in Iran and North Korea and other issues.
China aims more than 1,000 ballistic missiles at Taiwan; the U.S. government is bound by law to ensure the island is able to respond to Chinese threats.
The package includes 114 Patriot missiles designed to shoot down other missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters, and two mine-hunting ships.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/29/AR2010012902723.html
By FOSTER KLUG
The Associated Press
Friday, January 29, 2010; 4:12 PM
WASHINGTON -- In a move sure to aggravate China, the Obama administration on Friday announced plans for more than $6 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing island the Chinese claim as their own.
The sale would include Black Hawk helicopters, Patriot missiles, mine-hunting ships and information technology. Lawmakers have 30 days to comment before the plan proceeds; senior lawmakers have traditionally supported arms sales to Taiwan.
Taiwan is the most sensitive matter in already-tense relations between the U.S. and China, two powers increasingly linked by security and economic issues. The sale could spark a temporary break in U.S.-China military ties.
The United States, which only told China of the sale hours before the announcement, acknowledged Friday that Beijing may retaliate by cutting off military talks with Washington, which happened after a multibillion dollar U.S. sale to Taiwan in 2008.
ad_icon
Wang Baodong, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said Beijing will lodge a formal protest against the U.S. decision. Asked if China would cut off military ties, he said, "Let's wait and see."
President Barack Obama's national security adviser, Jim Jones, said Friday that Washington and Beijing both do things "periodically that may not make everybody completely happy."
But Jones told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank the U.S. is "bent toward a new relationship with China as a rising power in the world."
China vehemently opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. It has threatened to invade Taiwan should the island ever formalize its de facto independence.
The United States is Taiwan's most important ally and largest arms supplier.
The package, posted on a Pentagon Web site, dodges one thorny issue: The F-16 fighter jets that Taiwan covets are not included.
The sale satisfies parts of an $11 billion arms package originally pledged to Taiwan by former President George W. Bush in 2001, which has been provided in stages because of political and budgetary considerations in Taiwan and the United States.
The arms sale will test the Obama administration's China policy, which U.S. officials say is meant to improve trust between the countries, so that the inevitable disagreements over Taiwan or Tibet don't reverse efforts to cooperate on nuclear standoffs in Iran and North Korea and other issues.
China aims more than 1,000 ballistic missiles at Taiwan; the U.S. government is bound by law to ensure the island is able to respond to Chinese threats.
The package includes 114 Patriot missiles designed to shoot down other missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters, and two mine-hunting ships.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/29/AR2010012902723.html
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